These two mounts are closely related, the first being at 868 ms. and the other at 938 ms. above sea level. Between them is a narrow pass to Shechem, and the slope of Gerizim is between them. This pass is a path from the sea to the Jordan. (1) Gerizim is to the south, and is now called Jebelet-tur or (Tor). The top is a great plateau. There are some ruins here, the most important being the castle that Justinian built in 583 AD. JC, with walls 1.5 to 3 meters thick, forming a large square surrounded by towers. In the western wall there are twelve stones, and according to what is said, they are those that Israel took from the bed of the Jordan
(Joshua 4:20). Numerous cisterns and embankments also remain. In the center of the plateau is a jutting rock that the Samaritans point to as the altar of their ancient temple. They say that it was on this plateau where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). Every year, on this mountain, they observe Passover according to the instructions of the Pentateuch. (2) Ebal is north of the valley of Shechem. The southern side, near Shechem, is steep and covered with nopales and thistles. Near the summit there is a Muslim sanctuary where they say (although without any certainty) that the head of John the Baptist is. On the summit there are also ruins of a small temple, a great fortress and its walls, which were very thick. The view from the summit of Ebal is splendid. From there one can see the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Mount Carmel, Gilboa, Little Hermon and Tabor, the valley of Sharon and Esdraelon, the highlands of Galilee with Nazareth above the plain and towards Lebanon, and Hermon . You can also see Mount Gilead, Mount Bazan, and the eastern wall of the Jordan Valley, the land of Moab, and the heights around Jerusalem.
These two mounts or mountains became famous for being chosen as the setting where Israel would renew their covenant with God in Canaan. Moses had mentioned this place, and declared that Gerizim would be the mount of blessing and Ebal the mount of cursing (Deuteronomy 11:29-30; 27:11-26). In harmony with these instructions Joshua placed half of the tribes on Ebal, and the other half on Gerizim and the ark with the priests and Levites in the center. From Gerizim they proclaimed God’s blessing, and from Ebal the curses that would come upon them if they disobeyed God. Also from this mount he spoke his parable (or fable) to the men of Shechem (Judges 9: 7-21).
Source: Geographic Dictionary of the Bible